Chapter 3

Maybe Monica picked up on the noise in the background, because her voice sounded a bit helpless. "Ethan, it's really fine. If you're busy, you don't have to come. I can take care of it myself."

Ethan's face instantly clouded with worry. "I'm coming right now. And don't worry about Anna, either."

He hung up before Monica could even get a word in.

After that, he turned to me, his face serious. "Olivia, can't you just be a little more understanding?

"She just got divorced, and now she's all alone with a kid in a city where she doesn't know anyone. Can't you cut her some slack?"

My throat felt tight, and I couldn't get a single word out.

"So when Mia and I needed you the most, how many times were you actually there for us?" I said.

Ethan was always busy with work. From the checkups to the delivery, I handled everything by myself.

Even when Mia was sick, Ethan was still on duty at the hospital.

Because of that, I had to constantly take time off from my job.

Balancing family and work was a challenge every mother faced.

I loved my child, and I loved my family.

I wanted Ethan to be able to focus on his job, and for Mia to have a happy childhood.

So, the day after I won the Best Reporter award, I turned down the chance to go abroad and stepped back from the front lines.

Everyone around me felt sorry that I gave up such a great opportunity.

But I didn't regret it because all I wanted was to make my family and marriage work.

Even as I sobbed, Ethan was still determined to help Monica.

"Just explain it to Mia for me, okay? I'll make time to take her to Wonderland Park next Saturday," Ethan blurted out, and then hurried out the door.

The sheets still carried his warmth, and I punched them hard, venting my frustration.

At my most vulnerable, Mia's small, hurt voice drifted down from above. "Mommy, I don't want to go to Wonderland Park anymore. Can you and Daddy please stop fighting?"

I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. I pulled Mia into my arms, trying to comfort her. "We're not fighting because of you, sweetie. The day after tomorrow, I'll take you to Wonderland Park."

Mia was so understanding. It broke my heart and left me not knowing what to do.

Because I grew up in a single-parent home, all I ever wanted was for Mia to have a complete, loving family.

But was I really doing the right thing?

If there was no love, what was the point of keeping up appearances?

I couldn't let it go. I flipped through Ethan's diary, desperately praying I'd find some proof that he ever loved me.

But every single entry just made it painfully clear that Monica was always the one at the center of his heart.

He'd ditch class to buy her snacks, get into fights for her, and break his own rules over and over, all for Monica.

But with me, it always felt like there was this invisible wall between us.

Maybe we were doomed from the start.

The only time I got to deal with my emotions was at night. During the day, I was so busy that I didn't even have a second to feel sad.

For two days in a row, I was caught up prepping for Mia's birthday.

Saturday morning came early, and Mia was already wearing the dress Ethan had bought her, sitting on the couch, all dressed up, waiting for Ethan to come home.

I'd already told her Ethan wouldn't be coming today.

But I couldn't refuse her, so I sat down beside her and waited too.

Seeing the hope shining in her eyes, I felt my chest tighten with bittersweet pain.

The dress didn't really fit. It was a bit too big for her. But it was the first dress Ethan ever bought for Mia.

Even though it was a little long, Mia was happy to wear it.